Chest Pain Center

The Olean General Hospital (OGH) Chest Pain Center follows evidence-based protocols that allow for more rapid assessment and treatment of patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain. The goal of the Center is to provide highly specialized care in the rapid assessment and treatment of patients who arrive at the Emergency Room with symptoms commonly associated with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), often called heart attack, as well as to provide a safe determination between those patients who require admission to the hospital and those who can be safely discharged home.

Olean General Hospital has earned accreditation for its Chest Pain Center from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC), an international organization dedicated to eliminating heart disease as the number one cause of death worldwide. Olean General Hospital was the ninth hospital in New York State and the only hospital in Southwestern New York to earn SCPC accreditation.

Benefits of the Chest Pain Center include:

Improved outcomes for patients with chest pain

Decreased time spent in the Emergency Department

Rapid transfer of patients requiring a higher level of care

Retention of patients who can be appropriately cared for at a community hospital

Increased patient satisfaction.

Clearly defined protocols and order sets to ensure all patients receive the same level of evaluation and care

Treatment from Highly Trained Professionals

The majority of people who experience chest pain are not having a heart attack, but for those who are, every minute counts.The Olean General Hospital Chest Pain Center is accessible through the Emergency Department. The Center is staffed 24 hours a day with board certified physicians and nurses who are specially trained to treat patients with chest pain.

The Most Advanced Technology

Our Chest Pain Center team has access to the most advanced cardiovascular technology, including 128-slice CT scanning, a high-field open MRI, 3D digital echocardiography, and an on-site Mercy Flight helicopter in the event transfer to a tertiary center is necessary. Patients arriving at Olean General Hospital's Chest Pain Center, are rapidly assessed by emergency personnel. "Rapid Assessment" involves blood tests to check for any heart muscle damage, a physical examination, and a review of patient symptoms and medical history. An EKG (electrocardiogram) is performed to help determine diagnoses, while appropriate management is started immediately. Prompt treatment can often relieve symptoms and reduce possible damage to the heart.